London Lions Sign Rising Prospect Emilis Zibuda for 2026-27 Season

London Lions have signed 18-year-old guard/forward Emilis Zibuda for the 2026-27 season, adding one of the UK’s brightest young prospects to their men’s roster.

The club confirmed the move on Monday 15 June, describing Zibuda as a multi-faceted prospect who returns to London after spending time in the United States with Layton Christian Academy. The 6ft 7in guard/wing is a product of the London Stars programme in East London and holds both British and Lithuanian passports.

For the Lions, the signing adds another development-focused piece to a squad already being rebuilt around continuity after their 2025-26 quadruple-winning campaign. Zibuda joins confirmed returnees Deane Williams, Joel Scott and Ethan Price as London shape their roster for the new season.

Zibuda’s recent résumé gives the signing a clear pathway angle. London said he has represented Lithuania at Under-16 level and was selected last summer for the NBA and FIBA Basketball Without Borders Europe camp at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester, where he won the three-point contest.

He also represented the Lions at the EuroLeague adidas Next Generation Tournament this past season, averaging 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals before the Abu Dhabi event was brought to an early close.

London Lions general manager Martynas Purlys said Zibuda impressed the club at EuroLeague’s Next Gen tournament, pointing to his basketball IQ, versatility and maturity as reasons for moving him into the senior men’s squad.

The deal is another sign of the Lions trying to blend immediate competitiveness with a longer-term British talent pipeline. With EuroCup basketball also back on the London agenda, Zibuda’s size, shooting range and guard/wing flexibility make him a prospect worth tracking closely during pre-season and beyond.

Sources: London Lions official announcement, 15 June 2026: London Lions sign rising top prospect Emilis Zibuda.

Image credit: London Lions official announcement.